2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450

For those with the means to indulge in an opulent full-size SUV, Mercedes has just made your purchasing decision more difficult.  The lineup now includes the more miserly GL350 diesel, this bread and butter 362 horse GL450, the over-the-top 429 horse GL550 and the, I-have-money-and-really-need-to-flaunt-it GL63 AMG rising to 550 horsepower. This here is the least expensive of the premium gas models with a starting price of about $65,000.  It gets you a 4.6-liter biturbo V8, a 7-speed automatic transmission, full-time 4-wheel drive and an air suspension.  It seats 7 with an adult capable third row while still leaving ample cargo room behind the upright seats.

Now I’m not sure if it’s just this unflattering Dakota Brown paint, but the GL’s restyled body hasn’t won me over.  And I suppose it’s fitting that the company’s biggest vehicle is adorned with the most ostentatious star.  But what you’re really paying for here is the GL’s incredibly comfortable ride quality and its ability to mimic car-like handling behavior.  It weighs over 5,400 pounds yet displayed nothing but finesse during my trip through Vermont’s winding roads.  It’s easy to drive fluidly, relying on a number of electro-mechanical systems to keep it stable, such as Crosswind stabilization and the optional Active Curve System that reduces body roll and lean in curves.  This remedies that tossed-about feeling passengers get in typical large SUVs.  And just as a vehicle like this should but often doesn’t, the GL makes a mockery of rough pavement.  It has one of the most pleasing, soft, coddling rides you’ll find anywhere providing the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and handling.  The optional Adaptive Damping System lets you tailor this even further.  The 406 pound feet of torque produced by the V8 allows for a lofty 7,500 pounds towing and a 0-to-60mph time of only 6.2-seconds.  If you have other terrain types on your mind, you’ll want to check the on-off-road package option that provides a 2 speed transfer case…my tester didn’t have it.  Gas mileage improves a tad, to 14mpg city/19mpg highway.

So what about convenience and flexibility?  It doesn’t get any easier than this with standard power operated, split-fold 3^rd row seats and these optional easy entry power 2^nd row seats.  At this price you can leave the heavy lifting to the car.  The GL is sized just right for the 3-row family, though these extendable headrests look out of place and don’t gel with the ease of use of the rest of the vehicle.  But if that stresses you, just activate the massaging front seats.

There is a mindboggling number of electronic safety features, most optional, like the special order night view assist plus, Parking Assist Package with active assist and surround view camera, the Driver Assistance Package with adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist and lane keeping and the lighting package with highbeam assist and active curve.  Attention assist and the new collision prevention assist are standard.  In a nutshell, this GL is going to do everything it can to help you prevent or minimize the impact of an accident.

$90,530 gets you all of this, but not remote start for cold mornings or a COMAND system that’s worthy of the price.  The GL450 takes the SUV to a very refined place.